Friday, November 9, 2012

The Hammer Man

Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish DMV, requires all cars
to have a yearly check-up at the government-run garage called Bilprovningen,
which means “car testing.” But Mats calls it “the hammer man,” because if you have
rust under your car, they will test the body strength with a hammer. He had an orange
1988 Saab when I met him and he dreaded the yearly hammer man appointment,
uncertain if it would pass inspection.

We recently had our appointment for the Prius. Being the
second time, I knew the drill. I registered on the computer in a little closet
of a room, then waited outside the grey warehouse building in my car. At exactly
9:50, the scheduled time for my
appointment, my license plate number showed on the electronic sign so I knew
which numbered door I should drive into when it opened.

I was told I could wait in the room next to the open garage
where there are hot drinks, newspapers and magazines. I had tea and peeked in to see how
my car was doing.

They checked the angle of the headlights (not too high, not
too low), fluids, wheel alignment, that you have a spare tire and warning
triangle in trunk, and a bunch of other things that are beyond my mechanical
understanding.

Then they took the car for a fast spin around the parking to test the steering, brakes, and horn.

The man returned through the back door, my car now parked
outside.

He said in Swedish that the car was approved, but I had a
hard time hearing what he’d said. I explained I was learning Swedish and he
said it a little slower so I could understand.

“Where do you come from?” he asked, still in Swedish.

“U.S.A., Kalifornien,” I answered.

“Near Sacramento?”
he asked.

“Well, about an hour away. Have you been there?”

“No,” he answered, “Three years ago I bought a car from
there, had it shipped over.”

“We had our car shipped here from California
too!” I exclaimed, not sure why this obscure link to home was so exciting.

“Yes,” he said, looking at the computer screen, “I see your
car is foreign.”

“Was it an old car?” I asked. For those into classic cars,
it’s popular to buy old American cars and have them shipped over.

“A 1950’s Chevrolet, from Sacramento.”
He smiled proudly. “Only had two owners, and was barely driven. It’s in almost
original condition.”

We talked about the car and then I thanked him as he handed
me my keys and a computer printout - approval for one more year of driving
here in Sweden.
Until our next hammer man appointment.

I got into the car and adjusted the seat forward again for my
short legs. The grey rainy day felt brighter with a little California
connection. I started the car and the newscaster on the radio reported on
American politics. I understood something about the polls showing a tight race
between Obama and Romney. The rest of the discussion was lost under the sound
of rain and my limited knowledge of political vocabulary in Swedish.